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B. F. WALKER.

HEAD REST- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1915.

LIMAMD Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

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BENJAMIN F. WALKER, OF WESTIPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO TEE EMBALMERS SUPPLY 00., 0F NESTPORT, CONNECTICUT.

HEAD-REST.

Application filed February 12, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. VVAL- KER, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVestport, in the county of Fail-field and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Head-Rests, of which. the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to head rests for the dead; and it contemplates the PI'OXlSlOIl of an article of manufacture constructed with a view of being removablyplaced on an embalming board or the like to support in proper position the head of a corpse, the said article being simple in construction, finished in appearance, adapted to be expeditiously and easily adjusted and adjustably fixed, and so arranged that when in use it cannot be capsized, and yet when not in use it can be folded into a small compass so as to take up only a minimum amount of space in the case of an undertaker.

Other advantageous features of the inven tion will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a perspective showing my novel head rest positioned for use. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section taken through the base and the fastener and in a plane at one side of the shank. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken in the plane in front of the fastener. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the fastener per 86.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

My novel head rest is formed of metal which is preferably nickel-plated or otherwise embellished. It comprises a base 1, a head holder 2, a shank 3 for the latter, and a fastener 4 for cooperating with the base and the shank to adjustably fix the head holder and the shank with respect to the base, and support the head of the corpse in the position that is deemed desirable. The base 1 is made of a single strip of metal, and is bent into a loop 2, the walls of which are flared, as indicated by 5, so as to effectually prevent overturning of the device when the same is in use. The lower and forward end of the shank 3 is pivoted at 6 in the forward portion of the base loop 2 and hence it will be manifest that when the device is not in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 45, 4946..

Serial No. 7,869.

use and the fastener 4 is moved to a position adjacent to the head holder 2, the shank or rather the major portion thereof can be nested in the loop of the base so as to contribute to the compactness of the device.

As clearly shown in the drawings the head holder 2 is disposed transversely of the device, is curvilinear in configuration and is provided at its middle with a depending loop 7. This loop 7 receives the upper end of the shank 3 and is pivotally-conneoted thereto in a strong and durable manner through the medium of a rivet 8, so as to permit of the holder being rocked on the shank. In its lower and rear edge the shank 3 is provided with three (more or less) spaced notches 9. These notches 9 are designed for the engagement of the fastener 4 which in the preferred embodiment of the invention is a sleeve of sheet-metal, bent about and slidable on the shank 3 and provided at its lower end and rear side with a lip 10 of a size to seat in the said notches 9.

In the practical use of the device, when it is desired to support the head holder in a high position, the lip 10 of the fastener 4 is arranged in the lowermost notch 9 of the shank, whereupon the lower rear corner of the fastener by bearing on the loop of the base 1 will securely maintain the shank 3 in an inclined position, and without liability of the shank and the head holder casually moving. Then it is desired to support the shank in its lowermost inclined position, the lip 10 of the fastener 4 is placed in the highest notch 9 of the shank and engaged with the loop of the base, while when it is desired to maintain the shank in its intermediate inclined position, the lip of the fastener is seated in the intermediate notch of the shank and engaged with the loop of the base. In other words, by adjustably fixing the fastener .-on the shank and then swinging the shank down until the fastener brings up against the loop of the base, the shank may be supported at various angles of inclination to the base, and the head holder may be maintained at various distances above the base according to the height at which it is desired to support the head of the corpse above the embalming board.

Subsequent to use of the device and when it is desired to pack it away, for future use, the fastener 4 is moved on the shank until it brings up against the loop 7 of the head holder 2. With this done the shank 3 and the fastener 4L thereon can be swung down- Wardly until the transverse portion of the head holder brings up against the walls of the base, whereupon the shank and the fastener will be fully nested in the base and the device will be reduced to such a compact state that it will take up very little room in the grip or case of an undertaker.

When it is necessary to put the rest into usefthe undertaker has only to open and adjust and then properly place the device relative to an embalming board or the like and the head of the subject to be embalmed.

It will be manifest from the foregoing that the adjustments of my novel head rest may be very quickly and easily made, that the device is extremely simple and durable,

' and that it is adapted to be readily and thoroughly cleansed.-

It will be further manifest that the device is adapted to be used on any embalming board or on any other support on which a corpse is laid.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

'1. In a head rest, the combination of a base, a shank hinged to the base, a head holder arranged on and carried by the shank and means on the shank, constructed and arranged to be 'adjustably fixed to the shank and to bear *on the base to support the shank in inclined position relative to the base and maintain the said holder in position above the base.

2. In a head rest, the combination of a base, a shank connected in hinged manner with the base, a head holder arranged on and carried by the shank, a fastener slidable on the shank and constructed and arranged to bear on the base to maintain the shank in inclined position relative to the base, and cooperating means carried by the shank and the fastener, whereby the fastener can be adjustably fixed at different points in the length of the shank "to support the shank in different inclined positions.

3. In a head rest, the combination of a base having spaced walls, a shank pivoted between the walls of the base, a head holder arranged on and carried by the shank, a sleeve slidable on the shank and arranged when on the forward portion of the shank to bear against the base and support the shank in inclined position, and when on the rear portion of the shank, to be nested with the shank between the spaced walls of the base, and cooperating means on the shank and the sleeve for adjustably fixing the latter to the former.

4. In a head rest, the combination of a base having a forward loop the walls of which areseparated by an intervening space and also having the rear portions of said walls flared, a shank pivoted between the walls of the 'loop' adjacent to the bight thereof, a head holder having a transverse curvilinear portion and also having a depending loop receiving and fixed to the rear portion of the shank, a sleeve movable on the shank toward and from the depending loop of the head holder; said sleeve being adapted in one position to bear on the spaced walls of the base loop and in another position to be nested together with the shank between the said walls, and cooperating means on the shank and the sleeve for adjustably fixing the latter to the former.

5. In a head rest, the combination with a shank, and a base to which the shank is pivotally connected, said shank having a notch in its edge adjacent to the base; of a sleeve slidable on the shank and having on its portion adjacent the base a lip adapted to enter the notch of the shank, said sleeve being adapted to bear on 'the'base and to be held by the base with its lip in the notch of the shank. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. VVALKER WVitnesses: I

CHAS. F. IIENDRIOKS, JULIA M. LONDON.

Copies or this Ypatent may be obtained 'for'fiv'e cents each, by '-'addre'ssing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

